The newest Roomba version now offers modular
parts that can be removed and replaced easily by users.
Instead of mapping and memorizing a room — which
would take additional technology and raise the price of
the Roomba (which starts at $200) — the unit's iAdapt
technology uses an internal dirt sensor which literally
listens for the sound of dirt being scooped up. With this
information, the unit can decide to return to the scene
of the dirt to give it additional sweepings.

iRobot introduced its fifth generation Roomba at a
recent press event in New York.

WALK TALL

The woman in this picture is Amanda Boxtel, who has had a T11/12
spinal injury for 18 years. She’s a paraplegic, but now she’s able to walk
with the aid of eLEGS — a robotic exoskeleton system from Berkeley
Bionics. You probably remember Berkeley Bionics from their cargo-carrying
exoskeleton, HULC, which they’ve since licensed to Lockheed Martin for
production for the military. eLEGS is largely based on HULC, except it’s
designed for (eventual) home use. The system is relatively light at 45
pounds, and you strap into it by yourself while sitting down. After only
a few hours of practice, paraplegics are able to use eLEGS to stand up
and walk.